Post by High Priestess on Dec 24, 2016 16:05:48 GMT
www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20161223/la-mayors-spokeswoman-leaves-for-airbnb
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s spokeswoman is headed to Airbnb to serve as the short-term rental company’s deputy manager for the Southern California area, according to company officials and the mayor’s office. “Her wealth of experience working on some of the city’s most important issues — including housing, homelessness and immigrant affairs — means she not only understands the needs and concerns of everyday people who depend on home sharing to help make ends meet, but also how to work with city officials to create common sense solutions,” Nulty said.
Some observers, however, expressed concern that the relationship between Airbnb and City Hall could be getting too cozy, with the move considered a potential conflict of interest.
Richard Close, a real estate attorney and president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, said the hiring is indicative of a “revolving door at City Hall” in which staffers build up influence, then go on to work in the private sector.
“It’s a potential conflict of interest because the company is buying the contacts of the former city employee,” Close said. “The problem is, she has confidential inside info on what the mayor is thinking on this issue, and what council people she used to work for think about this issue. So it’s both confidential info and potential for lobbying.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s spokeswoman is headed to Airbnb to serve as the short-term rental company’s deputy manager for the Southern California area, according to company officials and the mayor’s office. “Her wealth of experience working on some of the city’s most important issues — including housing, homelessness and immigrant affairs — means she not only understands the needs and concerns of everyday people who depend on home sharing to help make ends meet, but also how to work with city officials to create common sense solutions,” Nulty said.
Some observers, however, expressed concern that the relationship between Airbnb and City Hall could be getting too cozy, with the move considered a potential conflict of interest.
Richard Close, a real estate attorney and president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, said the hiring is indicative of a “revolving door at City Hall” in which staffers build up influence, then go on to work in the private sector.
“It’s a potential conflict of interest because the company is buying the contacts of the former city employee,” Close said. “The problem is, she has confidential inside info on what the mayor is thinking on this issue, and what council people she used to work for think about this issue. So it’s both confidential info and potential for lobbying.”